Movie titles produced by top Spanish broadcast network Mediaset España used to spark buzz at the Cannes film market every year, befitting a driving force of the Spanish film industry.
This year, however, like many other top European film production houses, Mediaset España is waiting on the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis to take the next steps in its theatrical release plans.
Films such as Jaume Balaguero’s TF1 Studio-sold “Way Down,” one of the company’s most anticipated titles of the year, is scheduled for a theatrical release this fall; and comedy “Operación Camarón,” handled internationally by Filmax, delayed its Spanish release from March 13 to Sept. 11.
“These are films for which we have strong audience expectations, and we want to protect them until we find the best scenario,” Mediaset España CEO Paolo Vasile said.
Although this year at Cannes virtual market there is no Mediaset España spotlight,...
This year, however, like many other top European film production houses, Mediaset España is waiting on the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis to take the next steps in its theatrical release plans.
Films such as Jaume Balaguero’s TF1 Studio-sold “Way Down,” one of the company’s most anticipated titles of the year, is scheduled for a theatrical release this fall; and comedy “Operación Camarón,” handled internationally by Filmax, delayed its Spanish release from March 13 to Sept. 11.
“These are films for which we have strong audience expectations, and we want to protect them until we find the best scenario,” Mediaset España CEO Paolo Vasile said.
Although this year at Cannes virtual market there is no Mediaset España spotlight,...
- 6/26/2020
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Sky U.K. E.U. Deal: A Pandora’S Box?
Has outgoing European Competition Commissioner – and maybe next Commission president – Margrethe Vestager opened a Pandora’s Box?
On Thursday evening, the E.U. competition authorities announced they had accepted commitments from Sky U.K. and Disney, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. regarding their film licensing deals in the U.K. The settlement affects a decades-long backbone of the studio business around the world: Territory-by-territory exclusive sales. Sky U.K. and its studio partners, while not marketing the offer in other territories, promise not to bar E.U. consumers outside the U.K. who want to subscribe to its U.K. film services. So a Brit ex-pat in Madrid can now watch Sky U.K. movies without setting up a U.K. account.
But that may not be the rights Armageddon some people imagine. “What the Hollywood studios will want...
Has outgoing European Competition Commissioner – and maybe next Commission president – Margrethe Vestager opened a Pandora’s Box?
On Thursday evening, the E.U. competition authorities announced they had accepted commitments from Sky U.K. and Disney, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. regarding their film licensing deals in the U.K. The settlement affects a decades-long backbone of the studio business around the world: Territory-by-territory exclusive sales. Sky U.K. and its studio partners, while not marketing the offer in other territories, promise not to bar E.U. consumers outside the U.K. who want to subscribe to its U.K. film services. So a Brit ex-pat in Madrid can now watch Sky U.K. movies without setting up a U.K. account.
But that may not be the rights Armageddon some people imagine. “What the Hollywood studios will want...
- 3/8/2019
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — Top-rating Spanish broadcast network Mediaset Espana has tapped Ghislain Barrois, CEO of its highly successful film production arm Telecinco Cinema, to head up Mediterraneo, Me’s newly integrated sales-production operation.
Ana Bustamante will serve as its managing director. Silvia Cotino will direct its sales and business development. Barrios will remain director of sales and acquisitions at Mediaset España and continue heading up Telecinco Cinema.
The new sales-acquisition-production company will be introduced to the international market at the upcoming MipTV market-co-production forum, which runs April. 8-11 in Cannes.
First sketched out in a presentation on Oct. 30, but now officially launched, Mediterraneo will seek to serve the exponentially-increasing demand for content in the Spanish-speaking world, driven by Netflix and Amazon, but with more streaming platforms in the offing.
Though part of a free-to-air broadcast network, Mediterraneo will offer content and initiate production conversations with Ott and pay TV platforms.
Part of...
Ana Bustamante will serve as its managing director. Silvia Cotino will direct its sales and business development. Barrios will remain director of sales and acquisitions at Mediaset España and continue heading up Telecinco Cinema.
The new sales-acquisition-production company will be introduced to the international market at the upcoming MipTV market-co-production forum, which runs April. 8-11 in Cannes.
First sketched out in a presentation on Oct. 30, but now officially launched, Mediterraneo will seek to serve the exponentially-increasing demand for content in the Spanish-speaking world, driven by Netflix and Amazon, but with more streaming platforms in the offing.
Though part of a free-to-air broadcast network, Mediterraneo will offer content and initiate production conversations with Ott and pay TV platforms.
Part of...
- 3/7/2019
- by John Hopewell and Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Mediaset España, Spain’s top-rated broadcaster, is reinforcing its content strategy with the launch of new brand Mediterráneo to integrate its affiliate production companies, as it unveils a strong TV drama slate for the 2018-19 TV season.
With a €40 million-€50 million ($45.30-$56.60 million) annual investment, Me represents a key pillar for the Spanish TV fiction sector. Currently it has 12 series projects underway, totaling 150 hours of TV drama production.
Newest TV fiction projects takes in Aitor Gabilondo’s “Madres,” Verónica Fernández’s “Caronte,” and Curro Royo and Miguel Angel Fernández’s “Desaparecidos.”
Me’s ambitious TV drama pipeline announcement comes amidst a Spanish TV fiction boom, with a spectacular increase of local series production -from 6 to 14 for the period 2014-17 – and new players such as Movistar + and Netflix aiming respectively around 14 and 12 original series for next year.
The move also comes after Atresmedia, Me’s main rival at the Spanish free-to-air TV market,...
With a €40 million-€50 million ($45.30-$56.60 million) annual investment, Me represents a key pillar for the Spanish TV fiction sector. Currently it has 12 series projects underway, totaling 150 hours of TV drama production.
Newest TV fiction projects takes in Aitor Gabilondo’s “Madres,” Verónica Fernández’s “Caronte,” and Curro Royo and Miguel Angel Fernández’s “Desaparecidos.”
Me’s ambitious TV drama pipeline announcement comes amidst a Spanish TV fiction boom, with a spectacular increase of local series production -from 6 to 14 for the period 2014-17 – and new players such as Movistar + and Netflix aiming respectively around 14 and 12 original series for next year.
The move also comes after Atresmedia, Me’s main rival at the Spanish free-to-air TV market,...
- 11/1/2018
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Spanish drama production has evolved quickly in the past few years, while the proliferation of Svod platforms is revolutionizing the sector. Ott distribution has helped push some Spanish series onto not only continental screens, but also global TVs.
Take, for example, Alex Pina’s “La Casa de Papel,” produced by Vancouver Media for Atresmedia, and acquired worldwide by Netflix. Its Dalí-inspired aesthetic has been celebrated at Brazil’s Carnival and Saudi soccer matches.
Netflix has now commissioned Spanish drama series (such as Bambú’s “The Cable Girls”) and made early investments in others (such as Rtve’s “The Department of Time,” Atresmedia’s “The Cathedral of the Sea”).
Spanish fiction has “always been a quality product,” says Mediapro head of content Javier Méndez. Now, “the world is discovering Spanish fiction through its presence on new global platforms.”
Beyond Spain, the main target is Latin America.
In February, Movistar Plus — Telefonica...
Take, for example, Alex Pina’s “La Casa de Papel,” produced by Vancouver Media for Atresmedia, and acquired worldwide by Netflix. Its Dalí-inspired aesthetic has been celebrated at Brazil’s Carnival and Saudi soccer matches.
Netflix has now commissioned Spanish drama series (such as Bambú’s “The Cable Girls”) and made early investments in others (such as Rtve’s “The Department of Time,” Atresmedia’s “The Cathedral of the Sea”).
Spanish fiction has “always been a quality product,” says Mediapro head of content Javier Méndez. Now, “the world is discovering Spanish fiction through its presence on new global platforms.”
Beyond Spain, the main target is Latin America.
In February, Movistar Plus — Telefonica...
- 4/7/2018
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Alejandro Amenabar discusses delayed Us release and a penchant for international stories after opener garners mixed response.
The 63rd San Sebastian Film Festival (Sept 18-26) opened last night with the world premiere of Alejandro Amenabar’s Regression.
It is the first time Amenabar has played San Sebastian since 1996’s Thesis, the feature directing debut that put him on the map both at home and abroad.
The film, which met with mixed reviews, tells the story of a teenager (Emma Watson) who accuses her father of sexually abusing her in a satanic ritual. Ethan Hawke plays the tough cop who becomes obsessed with solving the mystery.
During the film’s press conference, Amenábar described his motivation for making the thriller: “I really want to make the kind of films I like to watch as a film-goer. I love horror films and I was inspired by the austere and harsh tones of films of the 1970s.”
Regarding the film...
The 63rd San Sebastian Film Festival (Sept 18-26) opened last night with the world premiere of Alejandro Amenabar’s Regression.
It is the first time Amenabar has played San Sebastian since 1996’s Thesis, the feature directing debut that put him on the map both at home and abroad.
The film, which met with mixed reviews, tells the story of a teenager (Emma Watson) who accuses her father of sexually abusing her in a satanic ritual. Ethan Hawke plays the tough cop who becomes obsessed with solving the mystery.
During the film’s press conference, Amenábar described his motivation for making the thriller: “I really want to make the kind of films I like to watch as a film-goer. I love horror films and I was inspired by the austere and harsh tones of films of the 1970s.”
Regarding the film...
- 9/19/2015
- by jsardafr@hotmail.com (Juan Sarda)
- ScreenDaily
Madrid -- Spain's broadcaster Telecinco signed a broad strategic alliance with The Walt Disney Company Thursday that sees the Spanish network offer series, feature films and other original programming from Disney, ABC Studios and ABC Family.
The accord also sees Disney in a non-exclusive capacity handle theatrical distribution on Spanish films co-produced by Telecinco's film arm, Telecinco Cinema--Spain's most powerful production house.
"This strategic agreement means a lot for us, given that it represents a very important qualitative step in our relations with Telecinco," The Walt Disney Company's CEO for Spain and Portugal Simon Amselem said.
Starting in November 2011, Telecinco will be able to air ABC Studios and ABC Family new series--to be presented at the Los Angeles Screenings in May. Additionally, catalog titles like "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," "The Rock," "Finding Nemo" or "The Incredibles" will also air on Telecinco. New titles from the Original Disney Channel...
The accord also sees Disney in a non-exclusive capacity handle theatrical distribution on Spanish films co-produced by Telecinco's film arm, Telecinco Cinema--Spain's most powerful production house.
"This strategic agreement means a lot for us, given that it represents a very important qualitative step in our relations with Telecinco," The Walt Disney Company's CEO for Spain and Portugal Simon Amselem said.
Starting in November 2011, Telecinco will be able to air ABC Studios and ABC Family new series--to be presented at the Los Angeles Screenings in May. Additionally, catalog titles like "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," "The Rock," "Finding Nemo" or "The Incredibles" will also air on Telecinco. New titles from the Original Disney Channel...
- 9/30/2010
- by By Pamela Rolfe
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Madrid -- The parent companies of Spain's two leading television channels Telecinco Group and Antena 3 Group, reported first-half profit plunges Thursday, blaming the anemic advertising sector for their disappointing results.
Telecinco Group, which owns the country's most popular channel, said its net profit for the January-June period was €62.2 million ($87.5 million), down 68.7% from the same period a year ago.
Income from advertising was €309.4 million ($435 million), a fall of 43.2% compared to 2008.
Telecinco CEO Paolo Vasile forecast a hard second half but said the company was expecting to overcome its difficulties by counting on austerity measures, a hoped-for improvement in the Spanish economy and more ad revenue flowing to private channels after the country's state-owned broadcaster Rtve stops accepting advertising from next year.
On Wednesday, the Spanish senate passed a bill ending advertising on Rtve's channels.
In its Q2 statement, Antena 3 Group reported a net profit of €22.7 million ($32 million), 71.6% less than last year's first quarter figure of €80 million.
Telecinco Group, which owns the country's most popular channel, said its net profit for the January-June period was €62.2 million ($87.5 million), down 68.7% from the same period a year ago.
Income from advertising was €309.4 million ($435 million), a fall of 43.2% compared to 2008.
Telecinco CEO Paolo Vasile forecast a hard second half but said the company was expecting to overcome its difficulties by counting on austerity measures, a hoped-for improvement in the Spanish economy and more ad revenue flowing to private channels after the country's state-owned broadcaster Rtve stops accepting advertising from next year.
On Wednesday, the Spanish senate passed a bill ending advertising on Rtve's channels.
In its Q2 statement, Antena 3 Group reported a net profit of €22.7 million ($32 million), 71.6% less than last year's first quarter figure of €80 million.
- 7/30/2009
- by By Benjamin Jones
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
San Sebastian, Spain -- Spanish television channel Telecinco is taking a 30% minority stake in the soon-to-be launched production house Arion Producciones, to be headed by Alberto Carullo.
Carullo, who acted as director of broadcast for the channel until he was named adjunct director general for content Monday, will be the majority shareholder and CEO of fiction series producer Arion. He is scheduled to leave his Telecinco post at the end of the year. Mariana Cortes, head of content at Grundy Prod., will join him at Arion.
The move signals a developing strategic pattern for Spain's most profitable broadcaster, marking the third time in two years that the channel has taken a stake in a production house, set up by a departing executive, catering to Telecinco's needs.
"It is a way to keep people and maintain talent within the structure of Telecinco, while enabling them to branch out on their own to pursue personal projects,...
Carullo, who acted as director of broadcast for the channel until he was named adjunct director general for content Monday, will be the majority shareholder and CEO of fiction series producer Arion. He is scheduled to leave his Telecinco post at the end of the year. Mariana Cortes, head of content at Grundy Prod., will join him at Arion.
The move signals a developing strategic pattern for Spain's most profitable broadcaster, marking the third time in two years that the channel has taken a stake in a production house, set up by a departing executive, catering to Telecinco's needs.
"It is a way to keep people and maintain talent within the structure of Telecinco, while enabling them to branch out on their own to pursue personal projects,...
- 9/24/2008
- by By Pamela Rolfe
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MADRID -- Spanish broadcaster Telecinco has sued YouTube for intellectual property rights infringement, Telecinco CEO Paolo Vasile said Thursday. He said papers had been submitted to the Mercantile Court 1.
YouTube has regularly said it does not deny there are infractions of property rights but claims it is the users, not the Web, that commit them.
Telecinco's suit claims the Web is more than a "mere intermediary" and that it "commercially exploits for its own use videos supplied by its users, making it a content provider."...
YouTube has regularly said it does not deny there are infractions of property rights but claims it is the users, not the Web, that commit them.
Telecinco's suit claims the Web is more than a "mere intermediary" and that it "commercially exploits for its own use videos supplied by its users, making it a content provider."...
- 6/19/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MADRID -- Spanish broadcaster Telecinco reigned as Europe's most profitable broadcaster Thursday as it reporting record earnings for 2007.
Telecinco saw profits jump 12.3% from last year to hit an unprecedented 353.06 million euros ($533.12 million) in earnings thanks to strict cost-cutting measures and a rise in advertising revenue.
Ad revenue, responsible for some 97% of the 2007 gross at the group's core channel, rose 9% from the previous year to reach 1 billion euros.
In a year marked by growing fragmentation in the television landscape -- including the uptake of DTT channels -- Telecinco pulled ahead of the pack of national Spanish broadcasters, taking 20.3% of the audience share, compared with rival commercial broadcaster Antena 3's 17.4% or pubcaster TVE's channel 1's 17.2%.
"This has been a year that we have impressively distanced ourselves from our competitors," Telecinco CEO Paolo Vasile said. "The growth of other television formulas has only made the solidity of our leadership in the field that we've always competed in that much clearer."
The channel regularly snags the lion's share of primetime audiences with the ever-popular "CSI" franchise and local sitcom "Aida".
Telecinco joined forces with its Italian parent company Mediaset in July, along with John de Mol and Goldman Sachs to buy 75% of blue-chip Dutch TV producer Endemol for $4 billion from Spanish telecom giant Telefonica.
Telecinco saw profits jump 12.3% from last year to hit an unprecedented 353.06 million euros ($533.12 million) in earnings thanks to strict cost-cutting measures and a rise in advertising revenue.
Ad revenue, responsible for some 97% of the 2007 gross at the group's core channel, rose 9% from the previous year to reach 1 billion euros.
In a year marked by growing fragmentation in the television landscape -- including the uptake of DTT channels -- Telecinco pulled ahead of the pack of national Spanish broadcasters, taking 20.3% of the audience share, compared with rival commercial broadcaster Antena 3's 17.4% or pubcaster TVE's channel 1's 17.2%.
"This has been a year that we have impressively distanced ourselves from our competitors," Telecinco CEO Paolo Vasile said. "The growth of other television formulas has only made the solidity of our leadership in the field that we've always competed in that much clearer."
The channel regularly snags the lion's share of primetime audiences with the ever-popular "CSI" franchise and local sitcom "Aida".
Telecinco joined forces with its Italian parent company Mediaset in July, along with John de Mol and Goldman Sachs to buy 75% of blue-chip Dutch TV producer Endemol for $4 billion from Spanish telecom giant Telefonica.
- 2/29/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MADRID -- Spanish broadcasting group Telecinco on Thursday announced record-high profits of €314 million ($415 million) for 2006, an 8.2% increase from the previous year.
Revenue jumped 7.1% to €997.5 million ($1.3 billion), while operating costs rose 10% to €309 million ($408.9 million). EBITDA increased 5.2% to €445.3 million ($585 million).
Ad revenue accounted for €965 million ($1.3 billion) for the company, which saw ad spending grow 6.1% from 2005.
The company, which also owns advertising sales company Publiespana, captured some 30.9% of TV advertising in 2006.
Spain's most profitable TV channel, Telecinco also led the ratings race here. In 2006, Telecinco captured 21.2% of the audience, compared to rival commercial channel Antena 3's 19.4% and pubcaster Television Espanola's 18.3%.
Audience share was bolstered in particular by such local productions as "Hospital Central", with a 30% share; "Aida" (27.6%); "Los Serrano" (25.8%); and "Yo soy Bea" (30.5%).
"We present these results with the enormous satisfaction of obtaining them in the most difficult year in our history," CEO Paolo Vasile said in a statement.
Revenue jumped 7.1% to €997.5 million ($1.3 billion), while operating costs rose 10% to €309 million ($408.9 million). EBITDA increased 5.2% to €445.3 million ($585 million).
Ad revenue accounted for €965 million ($1.3 billion) for the company, which saw ad spending grow 6.1% from 2005.
The company, which also owns advertising sales company Publiespana, captured some 30.9% of TV advertising in 2006.
Spain's most profitable TV channel, Telecinco also led the ratings race here. In 2006, Telecinco captured 21.2% of the audience, compared to rival commercial channel Antena 3's 19.4% and pubcaster Television Espanola's 18.3%.
Audience share was bolstered in particular by such local productions as "Hospital Central", with a 30% share; "Aida" (27.6%); "Los Serrano" (25.8%); and "Yo soy Bea" (30.5%).
"We present these results with the enormous satisfaction of obtaining them in the most difficult year in our history," CEO Paolo Vasile said in a statement.
MADRID -- As part of its strategy to channel funds into in-house production rather than pay for broadcast rights, Telecinco unveiled Winds of Water, a domestic production set to air as a primetime series on the commercial network. The introduction was made Thursday by CEO Paolo Vasile at a presentation of the project. Director Juan Jose Campanella's Winds weaves together two time periods, a host of social issues linked to immigration and panoramic photography. "We're looking to forge a new path halfway between a film and a miniseries," Vasile said. "It could be the beginning of a new genre."...
- 12/30/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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